Sermons on congregational autonomy: showing 406-420 of 22,966

God's Commandment To Repent, Part One Series

Contributed by R. David Reynolds on Sep 1, 2007

This is the first sermon in a series on the New Testmanet meaning and need for repentance. It was first preached in preparation for the congregation receiving Holy Communion.

God’s Commandment to Repent, Part One --Mark 1:14-15 I remember when I was first called to preach my pastor Eugene Black and his successor Mode Powell would often invite me to preach even while I was still in high school or when I would be home from college on a break. Those first attempts were ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:14-15

Denomination: Methodist

Lessons From Haiti (Part 1)

Contributed by Ken Pell on Aug 26, 2012

This is a 4 part motivational report I gave to the congregation after a Sabbatical trip to Haiti; it includes 7 transferable insights.

Lessons from Haiti {Part 1} Acts 15:4 Big Idea: This is a 4 part motivational report I gave to the congregation after a Sabbatical trip to Haiti; it includes 7 transferable insights. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported ...read more

Scripture: John 15:4

Denomination: Nazarene

Lessons From Haiti (Part 2)

Contributed by Ken Pell on Aug 26, 2012

This is a 4 part motivational report I gave to the congregation after a Sabbatical trip to Haiti; it includes 7 transferable insights.

Lessons from Haiti {Part 2} Acts 15:4 Big Idea: This is a 4 part motivational report I gave to the congregation after a Sabbatical trip to Haiti; it includes 7 transferable insights. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:4

Denomination: Nazarene

Discipline For Purity Series

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Sep 22, 2012

Discipline is also for the purpose of protecting the purity of the church. How does one person's sin harm the purity of a whole congregation?

Introduction This is the last of three sermons on the subject of discipline; you just have to get through this one more sermon. Then we can relax a bit as we go into chapter 6 and only deal with conflict between Christians and Christians engaged in sexual immorality! What is with these people? ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 5:1-13

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

I Must Have Been Wrong

Contributed by Richard Overman on Mar 24, 2012

Reflection upon the rightness & wrongness of Christian thinking. Allowing the congregation to be stirred up by deciding if all preaching is just vanity

"Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, ’Where have I gone wrong?’ Then a voice says to me, ’This is going to take more than one night.’" (Charlie Brown) I Must Have Been Wrong. Rhodes Friends 3-25-2012 Since I must have been wrong, I must apologize. Since I must ...read more

Scripture: Acts 24:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

Focus! Series

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on May 1, 2012

Many congregations, as they worship, experience union but not unity. They lack a spirit of oneness. What does it take to experience unity in worship?

“More Words on Worship: Focus!” John 4:1-24 Six people were marooned on a desert island. Two were Jewish, two were Catholic, and two were of Reformed background. The two Jews founded “Temple Immanuel.” The two Catholics organized “The Church of the Holy Name.” ...read more

Scripture: John 4:1-24

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

You Asked Me To Be Your New Pastor

Contributed by Bruce Ball on May 15, 2011

A message from a pastor who has been hired to lead a church to a congregation, establishing the ground rules for their future relationship.

You had heard that due to my health, I had to temporarily retire from the ministry. You also heard that I was healed and contemplating planting our third church. That is when I received a phone call from the leaders of your church, asking me if I would consider being your new pastor. You said ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:45-50

Denomination: *other

What Is That Born Again Stuff? Series

Contributed by Carl Kolb on Jan 3, 2010

Third in a series devoted to "church words." This talks about regeneration in a way most congregants and unbelievers alike can understand.

Those Confusing Church Words Series Ezekiel 36:25-27 What Is That "Born Again" Stuff" Today I’m going to talk about a word that many of you might not be all that familiar with: Regeneration. It’s a word that most unchurched people have never heard of. In fact, many Christians have only ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 36:25-27

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Still Speaks Today

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Jan 22, 2008

Prayer is as much about listening as it is about talking to God. This message encourges members of the congregation to participate in small prayer groups.

God Still Speaks Today I Samuel 3:1-10 In First Samuel we find the people of Israel have gone back to their old ways of being indifferent toward their Creator. Their leader at the time was the high priest, Eli, an old man whose eyesight has begun to go bad. Unless something changes Eli will ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-10

Denomination: Free Methodist

Faith For The Faithful

Contributed by Matthew Morine on May 13, 2008

Most people believe that the leadership of a congregation are the people with the strong faith. This is not always the case. Here is a lesson for the faithful to stay faithful.

FAITH FOR THE FAITHFUL THEME: THOSE WHO ARE FAITHFUL MUST ADMIT A FAITH WEAKNESS. TEXT: MARK 9:14-29 It seems that in the church those in a leadership position are strong in the faith. The elders, deacons, preachers, and teachers are those who are solid with the faith. This seems to be the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:14-29

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Idol Of Tolerance: Thyatira Series

Contributed by Ken Pell on Nov 16, 2009

We will seek to address the question: “how is a congregation to express and practice its faith in the midst of the genuine cultural challenges that it faces?”

American Idols: Looking at Ourselves and Our Loyalties Through the Eyes of Jesus** The Idol of Tolerance: Thyatira Revelation 2:18-29 Sermon Objective: We will seek to address the question: “how is a congregation to express and practice its faith in the midst of the genuine cultural challenges ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:18-29

Denomination: Nazarene

Badge Of Honor

Contributed by Marlene Dean on Jun 12, 2020

Encourage your congregation to enthusiastically embrace their identification as a child of God and to pray for the peace to endure whatever comes as a member of the family.

Badge of Honor From the Book of Esther 4 15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even ...read more

Prayer And The Presence Of God

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Sep 7, 2013

Starting a new series of talks on prayer I begin with some personal struggles and encourage the congregation to desire to be in the presence of the God.

As we drove home from Hampshire on the M25 last Monday I heard something smack into the windscreen. About ten minutes later Moira noticed the sun glinting off a crack in the windscreen and over the course of the next ten minutes or so we watched the crack slowly growing. By the time we stopped at ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:25-30

Denomination: Anglican

God's Christmas Gifts

Contributed by John Crowe on Dec 27, 2016

A christmas day sermon. A member in the congregation would open a present to intorduce each topic. The present would correspond to the point.

God’s Christmas gifts December 25, 2016 River Bend Baptist Church INTRO: Merry Christmas – for real, today is Christmas. There a lot of things which make Christmas special… -Jesus’ birth -Christmas Carols -Favorite Bible passages and stories There are some other ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1

Denomination: Baptist

Our Eyes Are On You

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Apr 3, 2016

A final sermon to a congregation at my retirement. This may help fellow-pastors who need to construct a last, parting message.

I have served as your 14th pastor, and I'm retiring again after 17 years here in Saugus. I'm retiring just as I did after 25 years as an Army Chaplain--with fond memories and no regrets. This is all to the glory of God. Our choir sang “To God be the Glory,” which was sung at my ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:1-12

Denomination: Congregational